COMPARING TAKE 5 WITH A PROPHET-5

OK, so Take 5 is a quite different proposition to a Prophet-5 in many ways, but it does share a similar core architecture and, of course, that filter, so we’re almost duty bound to make comparisons. I don’t think they are aimed at the same markets – just look at the price and feature differences

– but you still can’t deny that Sequential have launched Take 5, for better or for worse, with a kick up its backside from the P5.

Comparing raw tones, you can quite easily reset both synth presets back to a raw waveform

('Basic Preset’ on the P5 and ‘Basic Program’ on the T5) and then tweak each to match parameter values. Honestly, I could tell little difference with the raw waveforms; both synths were swapping around, sounding brighter or duller than one another on occasion, but broadly identical. It’s pretty much what you’d expect given the similarities at the core level, with the P5 perhaps displaying slightly more grit and dynamic range but very marginally. Take 5 excels on sounds with more movement, built-in arpeggiations and modulation; sounds the P5 can do but does rather less of as it focusses on bigger, classic voices. Each has their own character, then, even if they share core values.